The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-27
A LONG WEEK.
How Grace and Leslie Were Taught a
Much Needed Lesson.


so mamma, Leslie is the naughtiest
boy! l shouldn't s'pose anybody could
love him, and don't ever want to play
with him any more"
Mamma Lester looked up from her
sewing, and said, with sigh:
"Gracie, what is the trouble now?"
ats Leslie, mamma. He wanted to
play 'nagerie with his Noah's ark, and
wanted to play we were going on
'scursion, and take all my dolls for
poor city children, and Leslie wouldn't
1 think he's just as selfish as can be;
and then he Knocked my dollies all on
the iloorin heap, and smashed Lilian's
head, or something, L s'pose, for l
thought heard it crack
"Now we will hear what Grace did,"
interrupted her mother.
''Why, didn't DO nothing-much,"
said Grace, "'cept as l just hit his
Noah's ark little speck, and it fell on
the floor, and Noah's heaa cnme off;
and Leslie grabbed 'em up just as quick
as he could, and said he shouldn't ever
COIlc again, anu ran nome.
81 am very sorry that my little girl
should treat her cousin in that way,
and visitor, too, said Grace's mother
'1t certainly was very unkind."
Grace hung her head, but the naughty
look did not leave her face.
Mamma" she said, Il don't s'pose
anybody in all the world could be kind
to- such tryin' boy. 1 hope he won't
come to see me again till I'm hun
dred years old, do, truly"
Mamma took up a pen and some
paper, and wrote note, which she
handed to Grace.
81 want to have you remember,
Grace" she said, "that you are not to
go to see Leslie or speak to him for
whole week. | have explained it to
Aunt Dolly in this note, which youmay
take over to her now"
"Oh, goody!" said Grace. 81 guess
Leslie will be sorry enough, and wish
he'd tried to please me. Kiss me,
mamma, fore l 60"
She held up her sweet face, but her
mamma was bending over her work.
81 haven't any kiss for you now," she
said.
The little girls eyes filled with tears.
"Why haven't you, mamma" she
asked.
"You think it over while you are
gone, and perhaps you may find some
reason" was the answer
The little girl went away with very
sober face She delivered the note to
Aunt Dolly, who read it with queer
smile.
Tell your mamma that her idea is
good one," she said.
When Grace left the house, she saw
Leslie sitting under the big elm tree,
looking as if all his friends had desert
ed him.
Grace glanced at him, then hurried
on without word; but she had only
gone few steps before he called her.
"If you'll bring your dolls over, I'll
play any thing you want to-" he said.
Grace stopped and turned half way
round, but did not answer.
Betty is making me q strawberry
turnover, and I'll give you half, he
added, as an extra induceme Mt.
The little girl did not wait to hear
anything more, but hurried home and
went directly to her mothers room.
Mamma" she began, 81 guess-may
bet was me most as much as twas
Leslie that was naughty"
Mamma did not look up from her
sewing.
Presently Grace came to her with a
very penitent face.
Mamma" she said, 'Tm sorry I
was naughty; twas me a great deal
more than twas Leslie"
Then mamma LAID down her work
and kissed her little daughter
81 am very glad to hear you say So"
she said, ''and [ hope you will try and
be gentle and kind to your cousin in
the future"
Cant l please just 60 and tell Leslie
Tn sorry?" asked Grace, coaXingly.
'Do you remember what said about
it, dear?" asked Mrs. Lester.
eyes, 'um," said Grace, "but''-
"Well, Grace, when l say anything
like that, don't you think l mean it?"
40 mamma! can ever live whole
week less | can see Leslie, l don't
s'pose. Can't you please shut me up
in dark closet, and make me live on
bread and 'lasses, or else send me to
bed to stay all day-or something,
cause don't you see this will punish
Leslie just the same as me, and he's
such darling and wouldn't ever
quarrel if 'twasn't for me. If you only
would, Mamma Lestern'
Mamma smiled behind her work.
81 think you both need a lesson,"
she said, sand l am sure you will love
each other better for weeks separa-
ton"
Poor Grace! 1t was very hard, and